GoPro Daybreaker Rally Returns to National Championship
29 June 2013
2013 sees the Daybreaker Rally build on the success of recent years as it returns to the national rally championship and
announces a new naming rights sponsor.
“We are delighted to announce GoPro as our naming rights sponsor”, says Committee Secretary Bruce Sollitt. Their name is
becoming synonymous with motorsport, with their ability to provide professional quality video technology that is
available to the average competitor. “We see this as an ideal fit with our philosophy of providing events that are
accessible and attractive to everyone, from national to club level competitors”, continues Bruce.
Racetech is the authorised New Zealand distributor for GoPro in the motorsport market, and are ideally placed to provide
solutions that suit motorsport competitors and their specific requirements. “Racetech have been long term supporters of
motorsport in New Zealand, and this extension of their backing shows just how committed they are to our sport”, says
Rally Chairman John Clunie. “Their involvement will be highly valuable as we take the GoPro Daybreaker back into the
national championship”.
With a heritage that can be traced back to the late 1970s, the Daybreaker Rally has been a significant part of the top
level of rallying in New Zealand. The inclusion of the GoPro Daybreaker Rally as the third round of the Brian Green
Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship sees this event return to that top level.
Following a highly successful 2012 event, where it was a round of both the Total Lubricants Rally Xtreme Challenge and
the Geartech Central Region Rally Series, the 2013 edition also sees a return of these series, making for a trio of
points scoring opportunities at the one event. “This will be one of the few opportunities where competitors in all three
will be able to test themselves against each other”, says Media Manager Jody Seabright.
Last years inaugural season for Rally Xtreme drew a number of top competitors and saw a number of impressive
performances from up and coming drivers. This year the NZ Rally Championship has drawn a large entry list, with new cars
and international drivers, following a major change in the class rules and eligibility. “This means the GoPro Daybreaker
Rally is likely to be hotly contested by the best in the country”, says Jody.
Following serious deliberations, the 2013 event will provide a contest in a similar format to last year. Consideration
had been given to reverting to the iconic midnight start the Daybreaker is best remembered for during the 80s and 90s,
after an expression of support for the idea. However the organising committee has decided not to re-introduce night
stages at this time, after considering a number of factors. “We will definitely be considering night stages for future
years, but we have elected to keep the status quo for this year”, says Bruce Sollitt.
With the GoPro Daybreaker Rally set to run on Saturday 29th June, the town of Feilding will once again play host to the
gentle hum of rally cars, and the Manawatu region provide some of the best gravel roads for top level rally competition.
All of the official forms and information will be available at www.daybreaker.co.nz
Stewart Taylor - 2012 Winner of the GoPro Daybreaker Rally
Photo Credit: Jody Seabright
Fast Facts
Round 3 of the Brian Green Property Group NZ Rally Championship
Round 2 of Geartech Central Region Rally Series
Round 3 of the Total Lubricants Rally Xtreme Challenge
ENDS